Gustav Vasa – Founder of Modern Sweden
Gustav Vasa (1496–1560) led the rebellion against the Kalmar Union and was elected King of Sweden in 1523. He carried out the Reformation and broke with the Pope, making Sweden a Protestant country. By introducing a hereditary monarchy and building a strong central authority with taxation, a military, and bureaucracy, he laid the foundation for the modern Swedish nation-state. He had many children, and his sons Eric XIV, John III, and Charles IX all became kings.

In 1549, King Gustav Vasa began building a fortress in Uppsala, which was considered the most modern in northern Europe at the time. Power-hungry, he challenged the authority of the Church by pointing his cannons at the cathedral towers. At Vasaborgen, you can learn more about Gustav’s ambitions and visits to Uppsala, which was then regarded as the second capital of the realm.

Eric XIV – The Sensitive Renaissance King
Eric XIV (1533–1577) was the eldest son of Gustav Vasa and became king in 1560. He was educated and interested in the arts but showed early signs of mental instability. During his reign, the Northern Seven Years’ War broke out, and in 1567 he ordered the execution of several noblemen in the infamous Sture Murders. Eric married Karin Månsdotter, a commoner, which caused scandal. In 1568, he was deposed by his brothers and died in captivity nine years later, likely poisoned.

On May 24, 1567, Eric XIV—who may have been in the early stages of mental illness—ordered the horrific Sture Murders. It is believed that the killings took place in what are now the ruins of Vasaborgen. Here lie the oldest parts of the castle, including the stairways once walked by both the king and his victims.

Johan (John) III – The King Who Tried to Unite the Churches
John III (1537–1592) became king in 1569 after overthrowing his brother Eric XIV. As Duke of Finland, he had married the Polish princess Catherine Jagellonica. During his reign, peace was made with Denmark, and Sweden captured Narva from Russia. John sought to unite Catholic and Protestant traditions, which influenced both church politics and the Catholic upbringing of his son. He was the father of Sigismund and Princess Anna Vasa.

Eric XIV may have been murdered on the orders of his brother, John III. After a fire, John restored the castle and built structures including "King John’s Gate" just outside the entrance to Vasaborgen. Upon marrying Catherine, he converted to Catholicism.

Cecilia Vasa – The Scandalous Princess with a Strong Will
Cecilia Vasa (1540–1627) was the daughter of Gustav Vasa and Margareta Leijonhufvud. She was lively, strong-willed, and often drew attention. As an unmarried princess, she caused a scandal at the Vadstena court in 1559 when she was caught with a German count in her chamber—the so-called Vadstena Affair. She later married Margrave Christopher of Baden-Rodemachern but lived a restless life burdened by debt. Despite setbacks, she was enterprising and pursued both trade and diplomacy on her own behalf.

According to legend, she fell out of favor at court, and it is said that her spirit still roams the castle ruins. Many today claim to have witnessed strange events: vanishing furniture, swaying chandeliers, and an eerie sense of unease in certain parts of the castle.

Sigismund – The Catholic King Who Lost Sweden
Sigismund (1566–1632), son of John III and Catherine Jagellonica, became King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1587 and of Sweden in 1592. His Catholic faith caused deep division in Protestant Sweden, where he was deposed in 1599 after a power struggle with Duke Charles. He tried to unite Sweden and Poland into a powerful realm, but this led to protracted wars. In Poland, he reigned for over 40 years and supported the arts, science, and education during the country’s golden age. He died in Warsaw in 1632.

Charles IX – The King Who Laid the Groundwork for Sweden’s Great Power Era
Charles IX (1550–1611), the youngest son of Gustav Vasa, was first Duke of Södermanland before becoming regent in 1599 and king in 1604. He seized power from his nephew Sigismund after the Battle of Stångebro. Charles opposed Catholic influence and ordered the execution of several nobles in the Linköping Bloodbath. During his reign, Sweden was at war with Denmark, Poland, and Russia. He was the father of Gustavus Adolphus and grandfather of Queen Christina. He died shortly after the Battle of Kircholm.

Gustavus Adolphus – The Warrior King Who Made Sweden a Great Power
Gustavus Adolphus (born December 9, 1594 – died November 6, 1632) was King of Sweden from 1611 to 1632. Under his rule, Sweden rose to great power status through decisive actions in the Thirty Years’ War, especially the victory at Breitenfeld and his death at Lützen. Together with Axel Oxenstierna, he carried out major administrative and legal reforms, founded towns and schools, and modernized government and the economy. He was the father of Queen Christina.

Queen Christina – The Enigmatic Monarch Who Chose Her Own Path
Christina (1626–1689), daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, became Queen of Sweden at the age of six. She was crowned in 1650 and ruled with sharp intellect and strong independence. Christina refused to marry and shocked Europe by abdicating the throne in the Hall of State at Uppsala Castle in 1654. She converted to Catholicism and moved to Rome, where she lived as a patron, thinker, and political player in the cultural and religious life of Europe. Christina is one of Sweden’s most legendary historical figures. She was one of only three reigning queens in Swedish history and the last Vasa monarch to rule the country.